The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-30
STATE SANITARY SYSTEM.
VERY IMPERFECT, AS SHOWN BY
J. BERRIEN LINDSLEY.
Memphis and Nashville the Only Cities
Where Wise Precautions Exist
Against Epidemic Diseases Scientific
and Common Sense Suggestions.


State board OF health, has been in the city
for the past four days, in pursuance Of his
duties as public Waterman. An APPEAL
reporter called upon the doctor and in
terogatcd him concerning the health oi
the State and the special object Of his visit
Said he:
"Scvcml weeks ago, following out the in
siuciions OF the State board, prepared
and sent out circular letter 10 the MAYORS
and other authorities of the cities and
towns asking information regarding the
means provided for protecting the health
Of our people Answers were received
frOm some Of these; from many, none
Sufficient information was derived from
those which did respond 10 furnish us with
some conception OF the sanitary measures
now in iolCc throughout the State"
"What was the immediate occasion for
addressing this circular letter to the au-
thoritics?'
at was the presence, in the bay of New
York, Of a ship containing many cases Of
epidemic cholera from Italy. II the cxor.
tions Of the locdl sanitary authorities had
failed 10 exclude the disease from that city,
there could bc no doubt but the infection
would spread throughout the United
States. We therefore deemed il our duty
10 urge upon them such measures ~ wcw
best calculated 10 diminish It's ravagcs, II
not to prevent their occurrence within our
borders. And, another idea, should we
be fortunate enough To escape the vista
ton, such measures would not bc wasted,
but 20 far toward rendering us exempt
from such maladics as diphihcria dyscn-
terry, malariuus icycrS, aud many other
scourgcs which aillct the race Filth -
and by Nth is meant any animal or veg.
ctablc matter ia the process OF dccompnsi.
nen-is The gCnis. Spil foi the
growth of all Infections germs but ia
the case Of cholera il is more than that: il
furnishes The seed ~ well ~ the soil. The
one iuct, which Is now completely cstab.
lished IN reference 10 this disease. il that
It's germs are contained IN the discharges
nom the stomach and bowels " chulcmic
patients, and that the most effective way
III spreading Il IL 10y the diffusion of these
germs IN the water used for drinking aud
other domestic purposes. The disposal of
human cNcrvmcnt, then, while II iH u most
Important problem IN all sanitary meas.
nrer, bccomcs the one paramount problem
when providing against cholera
How do the germs oi cholera, after he.
ing elected irdn uIic body, nnd their Way
. -.is,s.-tt--uriu nism NJ anuthpr?'
'Air aud water ~, ~" effective media
and vehicles water being by lar the most
~, ior this MASON. In nir the germs simply
live; In water they live and breed. II h
IN the or, state that the germs pcrmcalr
the air, In the iorm NJ dust. In this con-
diiion they may h. described NJ Ia u state
81 suspended animation, incapable ui the
.lnac,iuns OF active lie until they are again
moisicnod These functions are Infection
AMI reproduction. In water. especially In
hlihy water they aw prppngatcd 10y mill.
Ions, ~ that II % pund, puddle or ci~icm
oncc UcciNcs single germ, 10 rapidly br.
comes saiumicd with millions upon mill
ions Of lis offspring II may readily h,
seen how railroads have contributed tu III,
sprad NJ Infections hy chulru,ir patient.
being received on boarl, or passengers IT.
tackled with cholera while IN hunrl steam
boats in the same manner communicate
direci Infection a. our water ,pur,. aud
~ has always hccn found TINT cpid,mic-
al this class follow the lines of rilrad,
nnd water courses
"Whnt is the most efficient method ul
puarling against this transfer
The disposal 1T filth IL the most capital
problcm. u WIS lur the purpose OF adVis.
ing with The municipal authorities ui th"
State that lhy letter referred to above was
cicuinicd. Tie answers received lrbm
SOME. nnd llilur boz many other cases. do
n~ Indicate nu effective sanitary system
IN HhhslHncv, the great majority ui a..
tpons,s amount Co This. We have now
F',h g thu"ugh cleaning up Ia our plarv,
including UA,upl,. ulltNs, pri,ios, etc.
AMI nave s,li'ruu lime iu all doubtful
places Allowing rpdit iur this ns fnr us
u goes, such rpuds lW entirely wuitiis.,
unlcss u /. stated how often the pru,,s- h.
rcpcnicd, nnd What is done with thr nlth
when removed To clean q town uurr on
tWiCc y,ur Ur uuIy Nlou danger oi IN
.pidcmic b. upIUHuudcd. b. little better
ihah nothing, coz even Wursc than nothing
~ some 'a~.. Whom thr refuse Is deposited
near enough Ouirr 81 population Ia cn.
dangcr health. la this laltCrcnsc the dan.
Ger b not pnoyci, but intensified hy con.
eninliun. Moreover the hrst municipal
of'linancrs arr practically null unless they
are eniorccl 10y constant Inspection made
ny paid agents Who nrp held responsible
i.r The daily cNcrlsc ui their functions
An olhcrr Who is not paid cannot BE- made
responsible"
Prom whence came the mort satisfactory
diseascg'
Prom Memphis and Nashville alone.
and feel Justified In saying that, ~ a pro-
vision against ordinary cpidcmics and Dis
eases, they are admirable. We only dcsir,
ts-rail their attention 10 two considerations.
10th these cities are growing rapidly, and
are constantly adding suburbs on their
outskirts, over which existing sanitation
needs 10 be extended. You can't have a
healthy city with sickly suburbs: the last
great epidemic NJ Memphis h a conclusive
proof u this Then, as 10 the disposal ui
nc refuse, the method adopted Ia 10 dump
y into the middle Of the river ai q point
below the city. II becomes momcnious
qnestion how Ear below the city. OF whether
ropulation extends farther down stream
Than The dumping point.
But Is this nll the necessary prccauton
hgainst such q disease ascholcm2"
NO the peculiar mode Of propagation
hafacieristic Of cholera suggests doubts oi
NJ The existing methods where that disease
M question. Repeating our statement
hai cholera Is chiefly Dsopagatod 10y the
iinusion OF ih gcrms1n water, there ap.
pear serious poup,as for alarm when Il Is
ssPsed 70 lSnuie our navigablc streams
elih The cholcraic objections OF whole
1nes Rolling and burning arc The only
ciiablc modes Of didnicction, and where
pie cannot DO done they should be thor.
<rey mixed with some gcrm-dcsiroyinp
Rand buried deep, With LAYER 81
earth thrown over them. The mosI